Mark Strong Takes Over as Carmine Falcone in The Penguin Series

In the HBO series The Penguin, John Turturro's character Carmine Falcone, previously depicted in The Batman, is not returning and is instead portrayed by Mark Strong. Turturro cited not just scheduling conflicts but also concerns about the show's depiction of violence, especially towards women, as reasons for not reprising his role. He mentioned having accomplished what he intended with the character in the film, while expressing discomfort with the themes in the series. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc was surprised by Turturro's reasoning as she originally believed it to be purely about scheduling and values an actor's personal choice in roles. While LeFranc acknowledges the show's dark themes, she also pointed out that the portrayal of violence towards women differs from Turturro's earlier performance, indicating they were committed to a proper representation of the character's violent nature. In the broader context, The Penguin not only captures the violent essence of Gotham but also explores complex themes within its storytelling, demonstrating the ongoing complexities of character development amid societal issues.